IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - September 2015 - 5

to better serve our members around the globe. Special attention was given to the developing regions of the world
(IEEE region 9 and 10) to strategize on membership expansion and inclusion of remote sensing scientist and practitioners from these regions into our global network. The
Chapter Chair meeting was organized by Paolo Gamba and
the Globalization session in the afternoon was arranged by
Tony Milne and Melba Crawford. These sessions were well
attended (by more than 50 GRSS members) and specific
plans were developed towards the set goals of these meetings. IEEE GRSS is investing significant amount money towards its strategic goals and for that I would like to thank
our CFO, Dr. James Smith, for diligently working with IEEE
that has enabled us to access the required funds.
Although we just finished with IGARSS 2015, I should
mention that the deadline for 2016 IGASS abstracts is around
the corner. The next IGARSS is in Beijing, China during the
week of July 10-15, 2016. We look forward to seeing you in

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Beijing next year. In collaboration with the organizing team
of IGARSS 2016, IEEE GRSS is planning to facilitate participation of remote sensing scientist and practitioners from developing countries near the venue. Our goal through such
program is to increase IGARSS participation from many developing counties in Asia. I am hoping we can remain connected through chapter meetings, technical committee meetings, and other GRSS sponsored symposia and meetings.
Best regards,
Kamal Sarabandi
2015 IEEE GRSS President
Rufus S. Teesdale
Endowed Professor of Engineering
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
GRS

The Italian Space Agency programs on Earth Observation mainly deal with environmental protection, natural disaster prevention, homeland and citizens security.
COSMO-SkyMed, a constellation of four satellites for environmental monitoring, is the
largest Earth Observation space program ever undertaken by Italy. In order to increase
national technological and scientific knowledge, ASI is also directing its efforts towards
several missions, such as MIOSAT (Microsatellite-based optical light mission), for the
progress and qualification in orbit of new technological products; ROSA (Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmosphere), aimed at studying the atmosphere; PRISMA (Hyperspectral Precursor of the application mission), that can determine, by hyperspectral
sensors, the chemical-physical composition of objects. ASI contributes significantly to
European programs such as GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation
Explorer), for the measurement of the gravitational field and the determination of the
Earth's surface and GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - September 2015